‘Alas, O sword of the LORD,

how long until you rest?

Return to your sheath;

cease and be still!’ vs6

When the Lord begins chastising and punishing, we want Him to sheath His sword. He will do so, in mercy, at the time appointed, but first, we must be disciplined! He has a lesson to teach us - that we are not to despise His counsel. Let us lean on the Lord, rather than forsake Him.

First, COME BACK to the Lord, if you have fallen, for He is merciful. You do no good staying far away in oppression. Repent, and remember the gospel.

“Maintain your competence and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.” [Prov 3:21]

Take the mercies of Christ. You are undeserving, but you have no other hope. You have no other way to fight future sin. We must believe when tempted to despair, just as we’d believe after a fresh deliverance. We must be bold after failure, as well as triumph, because God has not moved.

Secondly, bow to His judgments. The times are in His hand. He knows how to discipline for OUR benefit!

And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid,

declares the LORD, for I am with you.

Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you,

I will not completely destroy you.

Yet I will discipline you justly,

and will by no means leave you unpunished.” [Jer 46:28]

He is not cruel, but He knows lessons must be learned, and we wouldn’t hear, so He must teach us. He elected us, so He won’t despise us. He renews us in strength, teaches us to trust Him more, to endure temptation, and to fight by the Spirit. He makes nearness to Christ important, as He takes away joy [Joel 1:12]. He strips us of the pleasure of sin, leaves bitterness, and then sweetens us. It is His timing, so we submit, hoping in His wisdom, while crying out continually.

Do not fear the hard times, as if abandoned, but remember His love in the rebuke. His stroke is less than we deserve, and He has no vindictive wrath. There is no condemnation in His chastisement!

Poor sinner, He’s calling you. He proved you depraved, because you would not listen! Child of God, He said that you have no strength, and yet you abandoned His goodness. It is our fault, but He is wise, gracious, and kind. He’ll stop the sword eventually.

“So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. [2 Sam 24:15]

Thirdly, let those without Christ be warned! Wrath will never stop in hell. He’ll execute vengeance and justice. He will punish His foes, and pay them back with hatred!

But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him. [Deut 7:10]

Fear God, mere mortals! The wise man sees the evil and hides himself. Do not be like the mule. Do not kick against the pricks. Justice thirsts for satisfaction, and everyone outside of Christ hangs over hell, not knowing when the pit will take them.

Flee while you can! Do not ask Him to stay His sword, when it is too late. There is a sin unto death, and we can’t pray for it [1 John 5:16]. Pray for yourself, now!